A Luxury Indian Rail Odyssey - Premier

Board your overnight flight to India.

You’ll arrive at Delhi airport, where you’ll be met by your friendly, local tour manager and transferred to the first five-star hotel of the holiday.

The afternoon is yours to relax and settle in. Later, meet your tour manager for a welcome briefing on the journey ahead, enjoyed with a glass of wine or beer.

Dinner will be at the hotel, where you can get to know your fellow travellers.

Following breakfast, set off on a sightseeing excursion of Old Delhi. Begin by passing by the UNESCO-listed Red Fort, known as the Lal Qila, deriving its name from the red sandstone that embellishes its soaring walls. This historic fortress is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture. Continue to Jama Masjid Mosque, one of the largest in India, before enjoying a cycle rickshaw ride through the winding lanes of Chandni Chowk.

Later, you’ll be driven by India Gate, modelled after the grandeur of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This serves as a memorial dedicated to the soldiers who fought during World War I. Then travel towards the President’s House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) and Parliament House before the beautiful Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, a prominent Sikh temple. After lunch, explore the National Rail Museum and the UNESCO-listed Humayun’s Tomb, the tomb of Emperor Humayun and a fine example of Mughal architecture.

In the evening, return to the hotel for dinner.

Early this morning, you’ll be collected from the hotel and transferred to Delhi railway station to board the train to Kalka, a small town in North India. A packed breakfast will be provided for the journey.

On arrival in Kalka, you’ll connect to a ‘toy train’, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kalka-Shimla Railway. This narrow-gauge line, built by the British in the early 20th century, makes its way through the pine forests, offering dramatic views of the Himalayas, to Shimla. Serving as the former summer retreat for the British colonial government, this hill station is where they would escape to, avoiding the sweltering Delhi heat. You’ll be given a packed lunch box at Kalka station.

After this scenic ride, you’ll be met on arrival and transferred to the legendary Oberoi Cecil for check-in. Settle into this colonial-style property, which overlooks the Shimla Valley, before dinner.

Have breakfast before joining your tour manager for an introduction to Shimla and its highlights. The Viceregal Lodge is first, and this former British summer retreat of teak-panelled interiors was where the map of the Indian Partition was drawn up in 1947 by Lord Mountbatten. You’ll then pass the Gaiety Theatre, boasting striking, colonial architecture.

Continue to Scandal Point, which is positioned on the western edge of Shimla, where two of the city’s roads convene, The Ridge and Mall Road. This traditional meeting place for locals features a small square with a mock-Tudor state post office. There will then be time to browse an assortment of handicraft shops along the Mall, a pedestrian avenue.

The rest of the evening will be at leisure before dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel back to the railway station to board your train to Delhi. A packed lunch box will be provided at the Chandigarh railway station.

Upon arrival in Delhi, you’ll be escorted to the train station for a traditional welcome to your ‘Home on wheels’ for the next few nights, the Deccan Odyssey. With 21 beautifully appointed coaches, this train encompasses two restaurants, a lounge, a bar, and a spa, and is inspired by the royal era of travel of the Maharajas.

Enjoy drinks and a briefing in the lounge, and as the train departs, check into your cabin and have dinner.

Following breakfast and a morning at leisure, the train will arrive in the city of Sawai Madhopur in the southeastern part of Rajasthan. From here, you’ll be driven to Ranthambore, one of the largest and most famous national parks in Northern India. This former royal hunting ground is now a key centre for ‘Project Tiger’, and its grasslands, streams, and pools are home to striped hyenas, sambar deer, sloth bears, and of course, the elusive and still endangered tigers of Ranthambhore.

In the afternoon, witness the park’s incredible biodiversity on an open-air safari. Your guide will share their expertise, providing insights into the behaviour, habitats, and unique characteristics of the animals you encounter.

This evening, dinner will be served on board the train as you continue your journey.

While having breakfast, the train will arrive in the city of Agra. You’ll then start the day in a truly unforgettable way by visiting the Taj Mahal, the famed monument of love. This ivory-white marble mausoleum and UNESCO World Heritage Site, encircled by expansive Mughal gardens, is one of the greatest architectural achievements and a wish-list spectacle.

Completed in 1648 and built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, it’s renowned for its Mughal design and elements, including a central dome, minarets, and a reflecting pool. Your guide will bring to life the love story that resulted in the Taj being built.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a hotel in the city before you visit Agra Fort, a grand red sandstone fortress that served as the residence of Mughal emperors for over three centuries. Here, you can explore the intricate maze of courtyards, palaces, and mosques within the fort.

In the afternoon, conclude your time in Agra at Kalakriti, an arts and cultural centre. Observe the exquisite art of inlay work, known as Pietra Dura, a technique famously used to adorn Mughal masterpieces, such as the Taj Mahal.

This evening, you’ll return to the train for dinner.

Today, after breakfast, you’ll arrive in the former Rajput capital, Jaipur. From the station, travel to the base of Amber Fort, board a Jeep, and climb to the city's vast 6th-century hilltop fort. At the top, take in the magnificent views over Maota Lake from the ramparts.

After lunch at a hotel in the city, head to the City Palace, a red-hued, intricate complex of temples, courtyards, pavilions, and gardens, and a major heritage landmark. The Jantar Mantar, an observatory constructed in 1724 is the following highlight. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is located outdoors and features expansive geometric ‘toys’, the world’s largest sundial and an assortment of 19 astronomical instruments.

You’ll then pass by another poignant palace, Hawa Mahal. Also known as the ‘Palace of the Winds’, this 18th-century building is constructed from red and pink sandstone and lined with ornate windows and screened balconies.

Dinner will be served back on the train.

Enjoy breakfast on the train before arriving in Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes’, set around artificial lakes and home to a collection of magnificent royal residences.

A guided tour will begin with a visit to the majestic City Palace, a grand structure of towers and balconies, and Rajasthan’s largest palace. This will be followed by a scenic cruise across the waters of Lake Pichola, an ideal way to take in the shoreside attractions from a different angle.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a nearby hotel, and then you’ll set off on a walking tour through the old city and its bustling, colourful bazaar. Observe the architecture and astrosphere, which provide a glimpse into traditional Rajasthani life, and pick up some hand-crafted souvenirs.

Back on the train, dinner will be served as you continue your journey.

This morning, you’ll stop in the royal city of Vadodara, famously ruled by the Gaekwads, and after breakfast, travel to Champaner, a fortified city founded in the 8th century. It’s here that you’ll visit Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a collection of largely unexcavated forts, mosques, and stepwells.

After you’ve finished exploring this park, return to Vadodara and reach the train in time for lunch. In the afternoon, continue to the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, home to an impressive assortment of art, sculptures, and royal artifacts.

Later, enjoy snacks and tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, the grand residence of the Gaekwad family, known for its elaborate architecture and extravagant interiors. This is the world’s largest private residence (four times the size of Buckingham Palace), and encompasses 170 rooms, a museum, and a cricket ground.

This evening, travel back to the train for dinner.

Arrive in Aurangabad, the gateway to one of India’s most remarkable heritage sites, this morning.

After lunch onboard, you’ll travel to the Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its rock-cut architecture and intricate carvings. These caves, dating from the 6th to 10th centuries, showcase Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments, including the magnificent Kailasa Temple, carved entirely from a single rock.

Later, return to the train, where you can relax and have dinner before heading to the last stop on your itinerary.

As the train arrives in Mumbai, finish your last breakfast onboard and disembark.

You’ll then join a tour of the city, visiting several of the historical and cultural landmarks. Start at the Gateway of India, a grand arch monument located on the waterfront of the city. It was constructed to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911 and served as the exit point for the last British troops leaving India.

Mani Bhavan, a museum, and a historical building dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, will follow. Serving as Gandhi’s headquarters for around 17 years, this mansion houses a library, a photo gallery, and a room where Gandhi stayed. You can view his spinning wheel and bed on the floor, as well as the terrace where he was arrested in 1932.

A short walk around Kala Ghoda Chowk will take you into the heart of the city’s arts and cultural district. Named after the equestrian statue (Kala Ghoda) of King Edward VII, the area is famous for its art galleries and museums. Every year, it hosts the annual Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, celebrating local and international art, music, dance, and theatre.

Lastly, pause for a photo stop at the Prince of Wales Museum, an ornate building with detailed lattice work, housing around 50,000 artefacts. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, formally known as the Victoria Terminus Station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another striking structure, with its Victorian Gothic Revival architecture built over 10 years.

After the tour, you’ll check into the last hotel, located on the well-known Marine Drive, with views of the Arabian Sea, and enjoy an evening at leisure before dinner.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and travel to Mumbai airport for your return flight, landing back in the UK this evening.